_Sydney_-_Opera_House.jpg" width="400" />Updated May 03, 2015 16:44:45Federal Labor MP Chris Bowen h...

1. Chris Bowen moves to support same-sex marriage
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Updated May 03, 2015 16:44:45
Federal Labor MP Chris Bowen has revealed he is now prepared to vote in favour of same-sex
marriage, if Labor allows a conscience vote.
Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek has been lobbying for Labor to adopt the party's policy in
favour of gay marriage and impose a binding vote on MPs and senators.
In contrast, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten wants Labor politicians to continue to have a free vote.
The matter will be raised at Labor's National Conference in July.
Mr Bowen, who represents the Sydney electorate of McMahon, said he was not in favour of denying
MPs and senators a conscience vote.
But he said he had reconsidered his own vote in the Parliament.
In 2012, Mr Bowen was among 98 MPs across the lower house who voted against legalising same-
sex marriage.
But he told Sky News his position had changed.
"It is our right as a citizen to get married, it should be a right applied equally," Mr Bowen said.
He said he was influenced by the personal experiences of friends.
"I have friends who had to go overseas to get married, I don't think they should have to go overseas
to get married as Australian citizens," he said.
"I would vote for it in a conscience vote. On my marriage certificate at home it's got the Australian
Coat of Arms.
"It is our right as a citizen to get married."
Last week, Liberal Senator Arthur Sinodinos became the latest pushing within his own party to allow
a conscience vote.
Some members of the Coalition who support gay marriage are worried if Labor settles on a binding
position, it would kill off the chances of an agreement to allow a conscience vote within the Liberal
Party.
Topics: gays-and-lesbians, community-and-society, marriage, law-crime-and-justice, government-an-
-politics, australia

2. First posted May 03, 2015 16:22:00
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-03/same-sex-marriage-chris-bowen-would-vote-for-change/6441
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